Wolverines to Battle Boilermakers at Crisler Center

» No. 19 Michigan returns to Crisler Center to face Purdue in a Thursday-night battle on FS1.
» U-M and Purdue will meet for the 161st time; the Wolverines trail, 89-71, in the all-time series.
» Guard Zavier Simpson, who is expected to play in his 131st straight game, is second nationally with 8.9 assists per game. He also is averaging a career-best 11.4 points per game.
» Center Jon Teske leads U-M in scoring (14.4), rebounds (8.1) and blocks (2.0).
» Forward Austin Davis has scored seven points or more in each of his last four games.

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The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan men's basketball team will host Purdue in a Thursday (Jan. 9) Big Ten battle at Crisler Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on FS1 with Joe Davis (p-by-p) and Bill Raftery (analyst) as the broadcast crew.

What You Need to Know for Thursday's Game

• Averaging 8.9 assists per game, Zavier Simpson has 5+ assists in 13 of 14 games, with 10+ in five of those, including a career-best 14 against Houston Baptist. He ranks second in the nation in assists -- trailing Samford's Josh Sharkey (9.2 apg).
• With 555 career assists, Simpson is third on U-M's all-time list, passing Antonie Joubert (539). Simpson needs 20 more dimes to move into second (Rumeal Robinson, 575) and 46 to become the second Wolverine to surpass 600 (Gary Grant, 731).
• Jon Teske has 4+ rebounds in each game this season and leads U-M in scoring (14.4 ppg), rebounding (8.1), blocks (28) and steals (15).
• U-M head coach Juwan Howard announced Dec. 28 that junior forward Isaiah Livers will be out indefinitely due to a groin (left) injury. Livers' injury occurred against Presbyterian College (Dec. 21) after he was fouled on a dunk attempt just 3:06 into the game. After making two free throws he was subbed out and did not return in the game. Livers missed the UMass Lowell (Dec. 29) and road game at Michigan State (Jan. 5).

The All-Time Series with Purdue

• Thursday's game will be the 161st all-time meeting between Michigan and Purdue. U-M trails, 89-71, in the all-time series with the Boilermakers. The Wolverines have won the last two contests and four of the last six.
• U-M holds a 43-34 record in Ann Arbor ans has gone 5-1 in the last six meetings at Crisler Center. U-M holds a 4-1 record in neutral-site games -- all in the Big Ten Tournament.
• There have been 27 games decided by three points or fewer with U-M trailing, 18-9. The last time a game was decided by fewer than three points was when Purdue squeaked out a one-point win at Crisler Center on Jan. 9, 2018.
• There have been 10 overtime games in the all-time series, with U-M trailing Purdue, 6-4. U-M lost the first six and have won the last four extra period games. The most recent overtime game was in 2017 when the Wolverines defeated the Boilermakers, 74-70, in OT at the Big Ten Tournament.
• Largest U-M Victory: 36 points (104-68) at Michigan on March 7, 1987
• Largest U-M Loss: 37 points (96-59) at Purdue on Feb. 6, 1961
• U-M Victories by 10+ Points: 37 | U-M Losses by 10+ Points: 39
• U-M's average margin in series wins: 10.7 points | U-M's average margin in losses: 10.5 points

Who are the Purdue Boilermakers?

• Purdue comes to Ann Arbor with a 9-6 overall record and a 2-2 mark in Big Ten play following a 63-37 setback at Illinois last Sunday (Jan. 5). The Boilermakers restart their Big Ten season playing five of their next eight games on the road.
• The Boilermakers have three players scoring in double figures, led by junior forward Matt Haarms with 11.5 points per game. Senior guard Jahaad Proctor adds 11.2 points per game, while sophomore guard Eric Hunter Jr. is scoring 10.9 points per game.
• Sophomore guard Sasha Stefanovic ranks third in the Big Ten in three-point percentage at 45 percent. He is second in the conference in triples made (36).
• Purdue ranks second in the Big Ten, and 13th nationally, in scoring defense, allowing 59.1 points per game. The Boilermakers also rank in the nation's top-50 in field goal defense, holding opponents to just 39.1 percent shooting.
• The Boilermakers are averaging 11.9 turnovers per game, fourth in the Big Ten and 42nd nationally, and have a 1.23 assist-to-turnover ratio, which ranks 40th in the country.

Things to Check Out

• Jon Teske leads U-M with three double-doubles this season. He opened this year with 17 points and 13 boards against Appalachian State and produced that double-double with 6:22 left in the first half. He added a second double-double vs. No. 8 Gonzaga (19 points, 14 rebounds) and a third at No. 1 Louisville (18 points, 10 rebounds).
• Teske became the 45th Wolverine to reach the 500-rebound club, reaching the mark against Oregon (Dec. 14). He ranks 43rd on the list with 520 career boards.
• Teske leads U-M with 28 blocks, nearly three times the next closest Wolverine -- Brandon Johns Jr. (nine).
• Austin Davis has come off the bench in seven games this season. After posting a career-best eight points against Iowa, he has followed with three straight games of seven points. In 10.0 minutes per game, he is averaging 5.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and shooting a team-best 65.2 percent.
• Eli Brooks has recorded the first seven double-figure scoring games of his career this season. In those seven games, he has shot 53.1 percent from the field (42-for-79), 51.3% from deep (20-for-39) and posted five games with 3+ long-range buckets. In the seven games he has not reached double figures, he is shooting 27.4% from the field and 27.7% from deep.
• Brooks' 25 three-pointers are more than his previous single-season best (14, 2018-19) and more than his first two seasons combined (24).
• Brandon Johns Jr. scored 23 total points over his first seven games (3.2 ppg). In his last six, he had 42 (7.0 ppg). Johns nearly mirrors that split margin with his rebounding. He grabbed 24 in his first seven games (3.4). In the next six, had 32 (6.0 rpg).
• In U-M's 10 wins, the Wolverines have shot 53.2 percent, averaged 10.1 three-pointers per game and outrebounded its foes by 5.5 per contest. In its four losses, U-M has shot 36.8 percent, averaged 5.0 three-pointers and been outrebounded by 8.0 per game.
• After cracking the top 10 over the last few years for fewest personal fouls, Michigan is at it again with 14.4 per game -- which is 18th best in the nation.

One More Rung Up the Assist Ladder

• With 555 assists, Zavier Simpson has moved into third on U-M's all-time assists list.
• He needs 20 to move into the second spot held by Rumeal Robinson (575).
• He needs 45 assists to become just the second Wolverine to reach 600 in a career.
• He needs 145 assists to become just the second Wolverine to reach 700 in a career.
• He needs 176 to become U-M's all-time leader held by Gary Grant (731).
• At his current rate of 8.9 per game, Simpson could collect 151 more assists before postseason play.